For much of the past decade, probably longer, regularly attending Broadway shows has been a bit like buying property: yes, some well-to-do younger people can do it, especially if they have help from their parents, but for the most part, it’s something most frequently enjoyed by baby boomers still living off their generational wealth, playing confused about why later generations can’t just do what they do. To some extent, that imbalance will be difficult to change, especially with ticket prices and attendance both setting records, often in concert with each other. But the last year or so on Broadway has also seen a resurgence in shows that pursue a vastly younger audience.
One of the biggest success stories so far is the Romeo + Juliet production starring Rachel Zegler and Kit Connor, which emphasized the youthfulness of a story often aged up, and brought in a recognizable star with her own vocal fanbase – not unlike what Baz Luhrmann did when he cast Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio in the 1996 film version. According to one of its producers, the play managed to hit the youngest Broadway audience in recorded history, with 14% of ticket buyers in the 18 to 25 demographic, as opposed to an industry average of 3%.
